From Chornobyl to reconstruction: Greenpeace in Ukraine

Today, Ukraine’s recovery is closely connected to energy security, community resilience, and the country’s choice of its future energy pathway.In this episode of the EUEA.Dialogues podcast, we discuss how Greenpeace is working in Ukraine during the war — from monitoring nuclear risks around Chornobyl and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to supporting greenreconstruction projects, renewable energy development, and local communities across the country.Podcast host Olena Rybak speaks with Andree Böhling, Project Lead “Green Recovery Ukraine” and Energy Expert at Greenpeace, about Greenpeace’s activities in Ukraine, the challenges of working during wartime, the development of renewable energy, and the risks that may shape the country’s reconstruction in the years ahead.The conversation covered:• How Greenpeace combines environmental activism, analytical expertise, and participation in policy development;• Why Ukraine became one of Greenpeace’s key focus areas after Chornobyl and the full-scale invasion;• Nuclear risks around Chornobyl and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant;• Green reconstruction and renewable energy solutions for Ukrainian communities;• Solar energy projects supporting hospitals and critical infrastructure during the energy crisis;• The pilot project in Trostianets and fossil-free heating solutions for residential buildings;• The challenges of working in Ukraine during wartime, including security, logistics, and investment perceptions;• Biodiversity protection and the environmental impact of Russian aggression;• Greenpeace’s position on the future development of nuclear energy in Ukraine;• The role of communities, municipalities, and international cooperation in Ukraine’s future recovery.